Improvement in pocket-book locks



E. SCHNOPP. POCKET BOOK LOCK.

No. 182,861. Patentedioct. 3,1876.

WITNESSES:

N. PETERS, PHOTO LITHOGRAPHER, WASHWGTGIL c C.

UNITED STATES PATENT QFFIGE.

ERNST SGHNOPP, OF EAST NEW YORK, N. Y;

IMPROVEMENT IN POCKET-BOOK LOCKS.

Specification forming part of Letters .Patent No. 182.861, dated October3, 1876; application file August 28, 187 6.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ERNsT SoHNoPP, of EastNew York, county of Kings and State of New York, have invented a new andImproved Pocket-Book Lock, of which the vfollowing is a specification Inthe accompanying drawing, Figure 1 represents a front view of myimproved pocket-book lock; Fig. 2, a vertical longitudinal section ofthe same on line C 0, Fig. 1; Fig. 3, a detail top view of thelockingspring levers, with actuating top plate detached and Fig. 4, avertical transverse section of the lock on line Y Y, Fig. 2.

Similar letters of reference-indicate corre- Spondin g parts.

My invention relates to an improved pocketbook lock that may be openedand closed with great facility by direct pressure; and it consists offulcrumed and spring-acted jawlevers that are operated by a top plate,-

with tapering or conical lug, entering recesses of the jaw-levers, so asto release the knob or button on the flap part of the lock.

In the drawing, A represents the base-plate of my pocket-book lock, towhich are fulcrumed the levers B, that lock, by recessed springjawsat'their forward-projecting ends,

the stud or button of the flap-plate O of the pocket-book. One or morerecesses may be arranged in the jaw ends to admit the closing of theflap when the pocket-book is filled more or less. The curved rear endsof the leversB are acted upon by a band or other spring, D, that servesto press the jaw ends tightly together. A top plate, E, is retained by aflanged or rimmed frame, A, of the baseplate above the top part of thelevers B, so as to cover the greater portion of the same. Adownward-extending lug or stud, a, of plate E, of tapering or conicalshape, enters angular or semicircular recesses 12 of the levers, infront of the fulcrums, and a recess of the base-plate, and produces, bythe depression of the top plate, the opening of the jaws, and therebythe release of the flap-stud. A bearing or bridge piece, d, at the rearpart of the top plate, supports the same at the proper distance abovethe levers, so as to secure the free motion of the levers on depressingthe actuating front stud of the top plate. The pocket-book is closed bysimply pressing the stud or button of the flap on the recessed jaw ends,so that the same are spread and then looked around the stud. The lockhas the advantage that it may be opened and closed by simply pressingeither-on the top plate or flap plate, which facilitates the working ofthe look, especiallyfor ladies, as the use of fingers for taking hold oflevers or other devices is not required, as is the casein most otherlocks, which are not as easily and quickly operated as the top plate ofthis look.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent- 1. The combination of the fulcrumed and spring-actedjaw-levers B, having recesses b, with a guided and swinging top or faceplate, E, provided with a conical or tapering stud, a, that opens thejaws on being depressed, substantially in the manner and for the purposespecified. 2. The combination of the swinging top 0 face plate E, havingfront stud a and rear bearing or bridge cl, with the base-plate A, andrimmed inclosing-frame A, substantially as and for the purposespecified.

ERNST SUHNOPP. Witnesses:

PAUL GoEPEL, O. Srxoerzwrorr.

